Optical image measurement device including an interference light generator

Abstract

An optical image measurement device 1 causes an interference light generator to split a low-coherence light into a signal light and a reference light, and superimposes the signal light propagated through a measured object 5000 and the reference light propagated through the reference mirror 9 to generate an interference light. Two-dimensional photosensor arrays 14 and 15 detect the interference light. A computer 16 forms an image of the measured object 5000 based on the detection result. By inserting the optical fiber bundle 5 into the measured object 5000 to perform a measurement, a tomographic image of a deep tissue of the measured object 5000 can be obtained. Furthermore, the optical image measurement device 1 can form a high-resolution image of the deep tissue of the measured object 5000 because performing a measurement using the OCT technology.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. An optical image measurement device, comprising:
 an interference light generator configured to split a light from a broadband light source into a signal light and a reference light, and superimpose the signal light reflected by a measured object and the reference light reflected by a reference object to generate an interference light; 
 a detector configured to detect the interference light; 
 an image forming part configured to form an image of the measured object based on a detection result of the interference light, 
 wherein the interference light generator includes a light guiding part including a flexible optical fiber bundle configured to emit the signal light split from the light from the broadband light source from a first end and guide the signal light reflected by the measured object and entered into the first end, and the interference light generator is configured to superimpose the guided signal light and the reference light to generate an interference light, 
 a micro-lens is provided on the first end of each fiber of the optical fiber bundle; 
 the light guiding part includes a splitter configured to split a light having entered from the second end into a signal light and a reference light, and the light guiding part is configured to guide the signal light reflected by the measured object and entered into the first end to the second end and emit the signal light therefrom and is configured to emit the reference light from the second end, and 
 the interference light generator is configured to superimpose the signal light and the reference light emitted from the second end, respectively, to generate the interference light; 
 the interference light generator comprising: 
 an illumination optical system that emits illumination light onto the measurement object, sharing a part of the light path of the signal light; and 
 an imaging optical system that guides illumination light reflected from the measurement object, sharing a part of the light path of the signal light. 
 
     
     
       2. The optical image measurement device according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the splitter includes a reflecting part configured to reflect part of the light from the light source guided to the first end and split the light into a signal light and a reference light. 
 
     
     
       3. The optical image measurement device according to  claim 1 , wherein the detector includes a two-dimensional photosensor array configured to simultaneously detect a plurality of interference lights based on a plurality of signal lights guided by a plurality of fibers included in the flexible optical fiber bundle. 
     
     
       4. The optical image measurement device according to  claim 1 , wherein the interference light generator includes an optical member for matching an optical path length of the signal light with an optical path length of the reference light. 
     
     
       5. The optical image measurement device according to  claim 4 , wherein the optical member is disposed on an optical path of the reference light. 
     
     
       6. The optical image measurement device according to  claim 1 , wherein the interference light generator includes an optical member for matching an influence of dispersion applied to the signal light with an influence of dispersion applied to the reference light. 
     
     
       7. The optical image measurement device according to  claim 6 , wherein the optical member is disposed on an optical path of the reference light.